Weft thread feed mechanism



Nov. l2, 1940. `E PFARRWALLER 2,221,384

WEFT THREAD FEED MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1NVENT0R. ERM/v IDFA/WWA 5A.

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E. PFARRWALLER wEFT THREAD FEED MECHANISM Nov. 12, 1940.`

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R E4 O V mmm A D nm N WM EK w W FJ n W* Z wp@ L\\ 6 ,7 1 .6. .Ww 7 Q 7 Vl Patented Nov. 12, 1940 2,221,384 WEFT THREAD FEED MECHANISM I y Erwin Pfarrwaller, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Tefag-Textil-Finanz A. G., Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation Application June 2s, 1939, serial No. 281,515 In switzerland July 1, 193s 17 Claims. (Cl, 139-122) The present invention relates to a weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed means of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially 5 disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, more particularly to a. mechanism of the type set forth in which said feed levers individually make feed swings towards a thread feeding position and return swings to a rest position and in l0 which mechanism separate drive or actuating means are provided for producing the feed swings or for producing the return swings.

Looms for weaving having gripper shuttles are known in the art` in which looms different weft threads are individually inserted in a predetermined sequence. The desired sequence of weft insertion is obtained by means of a feeler cooperating with a perforated step-wise progressing pattern. The swingable weft feed levers are disposed in a circle and are provided with controlled weft clamps and are operated by means of platens which are hooked in reciprocating knives according to the pattern to be produced. With these known mechanisms the platen of the next operating feed lever cannot be hooked into the actuating knife until a feed and return swing is completed. This operation calls for a standstill of the actuating knife in its extreme position.

Conventional mechanisms of the type set forth require comparatively much time between two picks whereby the number of picks per minute is considerably reduced.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a weft supply mechanism of the weft gripping type in looms for weaving having radially disposed pattern controlled and swingable weft supply levers in which mechanism the feed swings of the levers are produced by an actuating mechanism and the return swings of the levers to rest position is produced by another actuating mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism of the type set forth in which the radial projection of the total stroke of the thread supply or feed lever is greater than the projection necessary to make room for the adjacent lever and in which mechanism the feed swing produced by one of two actuating mechanisms is started before the return swing produced by the other actuating mechanism is completed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the type set forth in which the platens of the feed levers which may be in rest or in feed position, are in such a position that the actuating mechanism locks the feed levers in their rest and/or operating position at least during a fraction of the time available between two picks. This type of mechanism assures that without providing special means the feed lever which must deliver several times consecutively the same thread coming from the same bobbin to the shuttle remains "in operating or feeding position without returning l0 to rest position.

According to the present invention the feed levers may be held in their rest and in their operating or feed position by means of a resilient member. This method of arresting which 15 is suiiicient for the rest position may be, according to the present invention, improved for the operating or thread feeding position by means of a controlled lever atleast during the time of transfer of the weft thread end to the shuttle. 20

The clamp points of the shuttles and of the thread feeder are usually very small. In order to absolutely assure weft transfer it is necessary to hold the clamps of the shuttle and the clamps of the thread feeder in exact 4position with re- 25 spect to one another. According to the present invention the exact position of the feed lever or rather the weft clamp thereof is assured by the provision of centering means which are preferably positioned adjacent to the clamp jaws and 30 which means may be used for guiding the clamps. The fulcrums of the thread feed levers are preferably disposed in a plane which is perpendicular to the direction of the pick and in which plane also the aforesaid centering means are located. 35

A further object of the present invention is the provision of only one` clamp control means provided in the shuttle box for operating the resilient clamp jaws from outside. This is particularly important when there is a great num- 40 ber of thread feed levers. The clamp control means preferably comprise a wedgeA shaped Vbifurcated member which is periodically inserted between the jaw members of the clamp. The weft thread passes inbetween the prongs of said 45 blfurcated member and the wedge acts between the centering means and the gripping ends of vthe jaws. i

The stationary weft thread spools are preferably arranged radially as are the feed levers 50 and their axes are directed towards the line of direction of the shuttle pick. A thread brake is provided between the thread spools and the feed levers in such a manner that there are as few and as small bends ofthe thread as possible 55 between the brake andthe thread holding head of the feed levers. The main part of the diversion of the thread from the radial direction of the thread spool to the direction of the pick ls arranged ahead of the thread brake with respect to the movement of the thread.

Further and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims and shown in the drawings which, by way of illustration, show what I now consider to be preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a part sectional side view of a weft thread feed mechanism according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a part sectional rear view of the weft thread feed mechanism taken in the direction of the shuttle pick.

Figure 3 is a part sectional diagrammatic showing of the path of the weft thread in a thread feed mechanism according to the present invention.

Figure 4. is a diagrammatic showingA of a modied path of the weft thread according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a longitudianl sectional view of the thread holding head of a weftthread feeder accoring to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional View of the weft thread holding head of a weft thread feed lever according to the present invention.

Like parts are designated by like numeral-.s in all figures of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Figure `1 of the drawings a thread picking channel 2 is provided in the shuttle box I; a picker shuttle 3 is inserted in channel 2 and is picked into the shed after it has gripped a weft thread. A guide it is provided on top of the picking channel 2,I in which guide the return member 5 which is provided with clamps 6 is reciprocated. The return member is provided with special control xneans 'E which serve for opening and closing the clamps 6 and which may in addition move the clamps 6 to the sides or upward outside of the shuttle box. The control means 'I is driven by a member I provided with projections 8 and 9.

The thread feed lever I I is shown in the shuttle box and either takes the weft thread I2 from the thread return means or transfers it to the shuttle 3. A feed lever II is shown in rest position in dash and dotted lines. The feed levers II are provided with clamps I3. 'Ihese clamps are held in the head I4 of the feed levers II and are guided adjacent to the clamping point I6 by means of a slotted guide member I5. The guide or centering member I5 is preferably of a conical outside configuration to facilitate centering. Thev weft thread I2 may be guided within said guide member I5, for example, in a tube I5', as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The part of guide member I5 at which the weftV thread I2 enters said guide member is well rounded or conical so that the entrance of the thread is facilitated.

The axles I'I which form the fulcrums of the feed levers II are disposed in a circle. The feed levers are of the two arm type and have a. long arm at the end of which the head I4 is provided and a short arm, the end of which is connected with the feed lever drive. This drive comprises connecting links I8 and 2l in between which a rod I9 provided with a piston 20 is arranged; 'to the free end of link member 2I one end of a two arm lever 22 is connected, which two arm lever swings about a fulcrum 23 arranged in the stationary part of the loom. The fulcrums 23 are disposed in a circle. To the other end of the two arm lever 22 the platens 26 are individually connected. The platens 26 are pulled outward, away from the axis of the pick, by means of springs 25. The rod I9 is guided in a bush 28 and also in the part 2'I of the stationary housing which forms a cylinder 29. The piston reciprocates in the latter. Throttle openings 3I are provided in said cylinder which are adjustably closed by means of screws 30 for adjusting the brake action of the air brake formed by piston 20 and cylinder 29.

The axles I'I which are disposed in the circle are held by means of supports 32 having a segment oonguration and being mounted to the housing portion 2l. The supports 32 are provided with cylinders and coil springs 33 inserted therein, which springs act on pistons carrying plates 34 which plates are individually pressed onto the surface 35 provided on a projection of levers Il. The devices composed of members 32, 33, 3d and 35 tend to resiliently hold the levers ll in their extreme end positions, i. e., the feed or operating position shown in solid lines and the rest position shown in dash and dotted lines even against the action of the lever actuating means I3, I9, 2l, 22, 25 and 26.

The platens 26 are normally pulled away from the center line 90 of the pick by means of springs 25. Whenever the finger 36 moves from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dash and dotted lines due to the action ofba perforated pattern, the platen 26 is moved from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dash and dotted lines and the lever ll may be brought into operating position and its head into the shuttle box I.

The platens 26 are provided with projections 3l and 38 which are engaged, respectively depending on the position of finger 36, either by the circular knife 39 or 69. Knives 39 and t0 are connected to bushesV 4-3 and 4d respectively which bushes are slidable on guide rod 42. The latter is provided with bores through which the weft threads I2 pass. Bushes 43 and 44 are individually connected to one end of two arm levers y A 4l and 48 which are rotatably supported by means of pins 45 and 46 and the other ends 49 and of which cooperate with clamps5I and 52 respectively, which clamps are mounted on a shaft 53 which is connected to and driven by a main drive of the loom.

Operation the finger 36 is moved from the position shown' .in solid lines into the position shown in dash and dotted lines and the platen 26 is pushed forward by means of Aknife 39 which engages nose 31. Upon clockwise movement of two ,arm lever 41 the feed lever II is moved from its rest position Il into itsoperating position II and its head inserted into the picking box I. An acceleration of the lever and actuating means is required at rst and afterwards a retarding. In order to prevent the accelerated lever II and the actuating means I8 to 22 from running away from the knife 39, a retarding means in the form of a dash-pot or air brake 2U, 29, 30, 3l is provided. 'Ihis air brake also causes the head I4 to arrive at its abutment 54 at a much reduced speed whereby knocks are eliminated. Such knocks would cause vibration of the clamps I3 and Adisengagement of the weft thread.

When changing over to another weit thread the weft thread which was last inserted in the shed is gripped by the clamps 6 of the thread return means 5 which are controlled by the projection 9. The means 6, at this operation, are in the position shown in dash and dotted lines and designated by numerals 6 and 6'. The thread return means 5 are moved to their outermost position shown in solid lines after the weft thread has been cut by means of scissors 55 and the weft thread will be gripped near its cut end by the clamping point I6 behind the return member clamp 6. Room must be made for a feed swing of a feed lever II which carries the next to be inserted weft thread. For this purpose the platen 26 of the last operated feed lever I I is caused to drop down by means of the pattern controlled nger 36 and the nose 36 of platen 26 is brought into a position where it can be engaged by the knife lII. The returnmovement of feed lever II to rest position which is produced by the knife lll is retarded by means of the double acting air brake 20, 29, 30, 3l. According to the present invention the return movement of the feed lever II is actuated by means of a knife l which is denitely separated from the knife 39 which causes movement of the feed `lever into feed or operating position. Before the actuating stroke of knife 40 is completed and lever II reaches rest position, the actuating stroke of knife 39 is started and the movement of knives 39 and lll is so timed that there is just sunicient clearance between the `feed levers to pass one another.

The position of fulcrum I1 is such that the free length of the weft thread between its stationary guide 4I and the head I4 of the feed lever is of equal length or somewhat longer when the feed lever is in operating position than when said lever is in rest position. The guide member I5 may preferably be made tapered so that it has some play when it enters its guide.

Figures 2 to 4 show an arrangement of the stationary weft thread spools and weft thread brake.

A ring member 62 is mounted on the stationary parts 60 of the loom by means of a support 6I. Radially disposed rods 63 are alsomounted to the support 6I, which rods slideably support the blocks 64. Blocks 64 revolvably carry levers 66 which may be resiliently held in position by means of a well known point arresting device 61'. The levers 66 carry the spindle 61 for supporting the weft thread spools 66 which are composed of thread of different color, different gauge or other different quality. The thread 10 which is pulled from bobbin 68 is conducted from an eye 1I of eyelet 12 which is mounted to the annular sheet 62. Within the ring 62 a brake holder 'I3 of preferably conical configuration is provided, on which brake holder the brake devices which are actuated by brake springs 1I are disposed. 'I'he weft thread makes very few and very slight bends from the braking point 16 until it is brought into the direction of the pick. The conicity of the brake holder 13 is just great enough to provide sufficient space for the brakes. In the embodiment shown all brakes are in one row; they may also be arranged in several rows.

After the thread has passed the brake it runs cn the inside surface of the brake holder 13 and then into a device 11 where it is under the influence of an air current or into a device which maintains tension on the weft thread 10 when the thread feeder is returned from its foremost cr operating position into its rearmost or rest position. It is advantageous to guide the weft thread before it enters and after it leaves the air current or vacuum 11 in order to prevent entanglement of adjacent different threads. The suction device 11 which is connected by means of a tube 18 to a ventilator or other source of suction is preferably subdivided so thatan individual suction slot 11' is provided for each individual weft thread. This is shown in the right part of Figure 2. The individual suction slots are disposed radially and are connected by means of a streamlined channel with the suction tube 18.

The sharpest bend of the thread is preferably arranged in advance of the brake 16. Figure 4 i clearly shows this arrangement. The thread is bent around the pin 19 and passes, after it has passed said pin, through the brake 16.

Instead of conducting the weft threads through individual bores 4I of rod 42 as shown in Figure 1, they may also be conducted through a central bore in said rod.

The axes of the stationary spools 69 need not be all in the same plane but may be arranged staggered and/or in different planes. They may also be in inclined position whereby the inclination of individual spindles may be different. w

Figures 5 and 6 show the control of the feed clamps I3 by means of a wedge shaped member 95 which is connected with the shuttle box I. The clamps I3 themselves carry no control means.

.They only are under the inuence of the control means 95 after they are inserted into the shuttle box. Figure 5 shows the rear end of the shuttle 3 carrying the projecting shuttle clamp 3'. The gripping ends of the jaws I3 act inbetween the rear end of the shuttle 3 and the clamp 3. The wedge member 95 is adapted to open the clamp I3 and give free passageway for the clamp 3' of the shuttle 3. As shown in Figure 6 the member 95 is bifurcated having two prongs for accommodating the weft thread I2 inbetween the prongs. f

A locking lever 85 is provided on the shuttle box l which holds or nicks the feed 1evr head Il in operating or feed position while the thread is transferred to the shuttle. This lever 85 is operated by means of link member 9|, lever 92, spring 93 and cam 94. The feed lever II can be locked in its working position and rest position as follows:

lihe platen 26 shown in full lines is connected to a lever II which is in the working position. The platen 26 is, however, controlled in such a way that during the next stage of the operation this lever is turned into the rest position; this is effected by the knife 40. Should this lever II remain in the working position during the next stage in the operation, its platen 26 would be pressed` upwards by the nger 36. In this case the lever I I would be locked in its working position by the knife 39 and the nose 31.

In the rest position the locking is effected in a similar manner: should the lever I I' shown in chain-dotted lines remain in its rest position, its platen 26 is to'be pressed downwards by spring 25'. In this case the locking in the rest position would be effected by knife 40 and nose 36'.

While I believe the above described embodiments of my invention to be preferred embodiments, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of design and construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a. person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern vcontrolled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers beingA adapted to make thread feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising lever actuating means adapted to be intermittently operatively con- -nected with said feed levers for producing the feed swings, and other lever actuating means independent from said iirst mentioned actuating means and adapted to be intermittently operatively connected with said feed levers for producing the return swings of said levers.

2. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and` individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers being adapted to make thread feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising lever actuating means adapted to be intermittently operatively connected with said feed levers and being adapted to produce the feed swings, other lever actuating means independent from said first mentioned actuating means and adapted to be intermittently operatively connected with said feed levers and being adapted to produce the return swings of said levers, and a drive means common to both said actuating means.

3. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers making feed swings and return swings, said mechanismcomprising a lever actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other lever actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the return swings thereof, said rst mentioned actuating means starting a feed swing of the feed lever connected therewith while the return swing of the lever connected with the other of said actuating means is not yet completed.

4. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers making feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising a lever actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other lever actuating means individually operatively Aconnectable with said feed levers and producing the return swings thereof, the extent of the swings of said leversbeing greater than is necessary to provide space for the movement of the adjacent levers and said rst mentioned actuating means starting a feed swing of the feed lever connected therewith while the return swing of the lever connected with the other of said actuating means is not yet completed.

5. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for l weaving having weft thread feed members: of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers making feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising a lever actuating means individually intermittently operatively connecte-ble with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other lever actuating means independent from said first mentioned actuating means and individually intermittently operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the return swings thereof, the extent of the swings of said levers being greater than is necessary to provide space for the movement of the next adjacent levers.

6. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers making feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising a lever actuating means individually intermittently operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other lever actuating means independent from said first mentioned actuating means and individually intermittently operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the return swings thereof, said other actuating means being so constructed as to lock said levers in returned or rest position during a fraction of the time between two picks.

7. A weft thread feed mechanism-for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers making feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising a lever actuating means individually intermittently operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other lever actuating means independent from said iirst mentioned actuating means and individually intermittently operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the return swings thereof, said first mentioned actuating means being so constructed as to lock said levers in feed position at least during a fraction of the time between two picks.

8. A weft thread feed mechansm'for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers making feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising lever actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other lever actuating means individually operatively connectable o with said feed levers and producing the return swings thereof, said other actuating means remaining disconnected from said levers and inoperative and said levers remaining in feeding position at consecutive picks at which the same thread is inserted.

9. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having picker shuttles, said mechanism comprising, in combination, individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and causing the return swings thereof, said levers having thread feeding end portions, and lock means movable substantially in the direction of the weft movement and adapted tofollow and to engage said end portions when said levers ap- Ais proach feeding position and to hold said levers in feeding position during the transfer of the weft thread to the shuttle.

10. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving comprising, in combination, individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable -with said feed levers and causing the return swings thereof, said levers having a thread feeding head a stationary thread feeding channel means having a thread -feeding head receiving portion for receiving said head, and centeringmeans connected with said head and with said receiving portion and assuring correct feed position of said heads at the end of a feed swing of said levers.

11. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving comprising, in combination. individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swlngable weft thread feed levers, actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and causing the return swings thereof, said levers having a thread feeding head comprising a thread holding clamp, and a centering and clamp guiding member connected with said head adjacent to said clamp and adapted to definitely guide the movement of said clamp, a stationary thread feeding channel means having a thread feeding head receiving portion comprising centering means corresponding to said centering and clamp guiding member and assuring correct feed position of said head and said clamp.

12. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving comprising, in combination, individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and .causing lthe return swings thereof, said levers individually having a thread feeding head and a said feed levers and producing the feed swings thereof, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable with said feed levers and causing the return swings thereof, said levers having a thread holding and feeding head including a thread holding clamp comprising resilient jaw members, and bifurcated jaw member operating means associated with said loom and having prongs and temporarily engaging said jaw members and operating said clamp and accommodating the thread between said prongs.

14. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving having weft thread feed members of the thread gripping type and individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, said levers being adapted to make thread feed swings and return swings, said mechanism comprising lever actuating means operatively connected with said feed levers and being adapted to produce the feed swings, other lever actuating means operatiyely connected with said feed levers and being adapted to produce the return swings of said levers, and a drive means common to both said actuating means and comprising a shaft, cam members mounted on said shaft, and a two arm lever for each actuating means, one arm of each of said two arm levers individually engaging one of said cam members.

15. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving comprising, in combination, individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers adapted to make thread feed and return swings, a drive mechanism connected with each of said levers and comprising a brake which brakes the feed as well as the return movement 'of said levers,

actuating means individually operatively con-` nectable with said drive mechanism and producing the feed swings of said levers, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable with said drive mechanism and causing the return swings thereof.

16. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving comprising, in combination, individually pattern controlled radially disposed and swingable weft thread feed levers, drive mechanisms individually connected with said levers and comprising an air brake braking the ends of the swings of said levers, actuating means individually operatively connectable with said drive mechanism and producing the feed swings of said levers, and other actuating means individually operatively connectable with said drive mechanism and causing the return swings thereof.

17. A weft thread feed mechanism for looms for weaving as claimed in claim 16 in which said brake.

ERWIN PFARRWAHER. 

